Submarine or submersible boat.



M. P. HAY & F. GUHRAUER.

SUBMABINB on SUBMEBSIBLB BOAT.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

APPLICATION FILED 113.20, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. F. HAY & F. GUHRAUER. sUBMAmNE 0R SUBMERSIBLE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1914.

Patented Allg. 18, 1914.

4 BHEBTBBHBET 2.

M. F. HAY & PGUHRAUER.

SUBMARINE 0R SUBMBRSIBLE BOAT.

APPLIOATION rILBD PEB. zo, 1914.

1,107,942. Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

4 SHEETB-SHEBT 3.

M. F. HAY & F. GUHRAUER. iSUBMABINE 0R SUBMERSIBLE BOAT. APPLICATION NLED PEB. zo, 1914.

1*,1 07,942. Patented Aug. 18, 19.14.

4 SHEETS-SHEET '4T /V/HRLE v FOTHE/v/NQHHM Alf-fg NITNESSS UNITED STATES PATENT` OFFICE.

MARLEY FOTHERINGHAM HAY AND` FERDINAND GUHR'AUER, OFA DUM-BARTON,

` SCOTLAND;

SUBMARINE 0R SUBMERSIBLE BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application filed February 20, 1914. Serial No. 819,986.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we MARLEY Formin- INGHAM HAY, a subject of the'King of Great Britain and Ireland, and FERDINAND GUH- RAUnR, a subject of the Kingof Hunfrary, residents of Dumbarton, Scotland, have 1nvented certain`new and useful' Improvenzents in Connect-ion with Submarines' or Submersible Boats, of which the f'ollowingis a specification; n y

The invention has for its object to provide means such that a submarine or submersible boat may continue to be driven by its 1nternal combustion engines or by steam engines (hitherto only used for surface work) when it is much morel nearly submerged than hitherto. Thus the boat may proceed under them until itis much nearer the enemy than hitherto, and thus since the electric motors and storage battery are'only used when the boat is entirely submerged, the effective radius of action is much in creased. Further, also a submarine or submersible boat may be constructed, according to the invention, in which the divnig capability is limited to the amount yust set forth, and which therefore is never entirely submerged. Thus it may atl all times be driven by internal combustion engines and the electric means withA their complication and great weight be dispensed with. Or when the vessel is so arranged that it never becomes entirely submerged, steam engines Amay be used.

According to the invention and in order that the boat may be maintained at the reqvu'isite level' with the necessary accuracy,

there is provided a hydro-plane, adjustable it may be in height, above the vessel and in angle. This plane is at such a height above the vessel that when the vessel is in its desired state of submergence, the plane is just at `or just above water level. Immediately the vessel tends to sink, the plane enters the water more or less and acts powerfully to raise it. Means are provided for raising and lowering the plane either manually or by power, and to this end it may very conveniently be carried on the forward end of a frame pivoted at its rear upon the vessel and cont-rolled by a stay arranged between its forward end and the forward part ofthe vessel-means being provided for operating the stay and for turning the frame about its pivot. The means for controlling rthe plane are such that' it may be operated lfrom within thevcssel-freed that is or set iat such an angle that it does not interfere zwith the use ofthe usual diving planes for submerged ruiming so that, that is to say, tihe change from te semi-submerged 'run- "gning tocompletely submerged ruiming un- ;der electric power, may be made without even momentarily coming to the surface. lInstead of one adjustable hydro-plane, a lpluralit-y may be provided. The plane may lbe a thin and plate-like structure, or may be lbuoyant and of hollow boat-like form. 1 The usual automatically controlled trunk is provided for t-lie engine, the inout-h of that trunk being kept safely above normal sea level b the improved means liereinbe- `fore descri d for maintaining the boat at given stage of submergence. The trunk, jwhich is in direct comn'iunication with the inside of the vessel, serves, in the case of an internal combustion engine, to admit air to lthe engine, or as a discharge for the products of conbustion in the case of a steam engine, is arranged in an armored superstructure, preferably fish-form in plan, and which may also embrace the conning tower, periscopes and ventilators. It is provided with a valve either operated directly by a float to which water at sea level has access, 0r operated electrically or'mechanically, in which case its operation can be controlled by such a float all in known manner.

lThe usual steering and diving rudders are used for maneuvering, and usual means may be provided for compensating for that difference in weight and trim due to the displacement by water of the fuel oil as it used. These means consist of a pump abstracting water from a compensating tank, in or in close proximity to the fuel tank, equal in weight t0 the difference of weight between the oil used and water replacing it in the fuel tank. Or such a pump may be applied to one of the usual ballast tanks in the same manner, the essence of its function being that the weight of fuel used is replaced by :inequal weightof water. It is operatively connectcd to the fuel pump so as to work in strict consonance with it. Again, it is apparent that when the mouth of the trunk is automatically lclosed by its valve, the engine must draw its air from within the vessel. In order that. this air may not be used to too great an extent, the mechanism As when this is the ease, owing to the provision of the improved devices, the internal combustion engines or steam engines may still be used for propelling, the electric propelling machinery with its com lieation and weight may be dispensed Witi. Thus according to the invention there may be constructed a much lighter, speedier, simpler, and cheaper boat than hitherto possible suiiiciently submergible for its protection fro-m gun fire.

In order that the invention and the maiiner of performing the same may be properly' understood there are hereunto appended four sheets of explanatory drawings in Whichis shown in sectional elevation, with the mechanism respectively in the open and in the closed position, in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, and in plan in Fig. 3 an example of the trunk, valve, and controlling gear. In Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is shown another like example of this mechanism. In Fig. 5, Sheet ,i

the boat at a given stage of submergence, it is necessary to provide a trunk above normal 3, and Fig. 6, Sheet 4, is shown in elevation and plan respectively a like exam le of the improved plane, and in Fig. 7, t heet'2, a

detail thereof. In Fig. 8, Sheet 3, and Fig. 9, Sheet 4, -is shown respectively a diagram of the pump controlling mechanism and a sectional elevation of a form of controlled pump.

The example of the improved semi-submergence maintaining plane, which may either be a plane in the true sense, or be curved in profile, and which is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, consists of a -franiing 26 pivoted at its rear end on a transverse pivot 27 on the boat. At its outei` end the plane 28 itself is pivoted on a shaft 29 near its leading edge. For depth-maintaining purposes it is retained against the frame by fingers 30 on sliders 31 on the side members of the frame. These sliders are connected by links 32 with levers 33 on the pivot shaft 27, which levers are operable by Worm gearing 34 to retract the fingers and so release the plane 28, upon which being done the plane Heats free, as indicated by dotted lirios in Fig. 6, and with no effect in maintaining the boats level. The plane is preferably arranged to be raised to the desired angle, or lowered flush with the structure from within the boat. lii the present example, the mechanism to accomplish this consists of a compiiessed air operated piston in a cylinder 35 and the rod 36 of which is connected to a lever 37 rigidly fixed to the framing 26, and enacting therewith a hawser 38 attached to* the outer end of the framing and passing Within the boat where it may be paid out or hauled in more or less to adjust the angle or to bring the frame to the flush. In order that the round cross members of the framing 26 may not create objectionable eddy currents when submerged, they may have freely .strung upon them fish-form pieces 39 of wood or the like. These are shown separately in Fig. 7. l

It is tobe understood, firstly, that a plane or a number of them of theadjustable type just described may be placed in any convenient and effective position or positions on the boat. Secondly, that. alternatively the plane or planes may be fixed in the case as ereinbefore explained of a boat never intended to be more submerged than that de- .gree of controlled submergence which the i plane permits'. Thirdly, that the area of the plane (or Aof the planes as a Whole) and their angle is such that they normally control the level ofthe boat before their complete sublmergence takes place--that is to say, their area and angle jointly is in excess or in the vdirection of excess of what is necessary to preserve the definite level of the boat. nd

fourthly,v the plane or planes may be either ,of plate-like or buoyant and boat-like form.

With the improved means for maintainingl `shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, the trunk 1 is carried considerably above the level of the top `of the vessel. It is inclosed in a casing 2 sh-form in plan and to which the water has free access. The inlet of air to the trunk l is controlled by a valve 3 pivoted on a bracket 4 at the mouth of the trunk upon which the valve seats. From the valve there extends a lever arm 5 connected by a rod 6 to the piston rod 7 of a piston 8 in a double acting compressed aii` operated cylinder 9. An ordinary slide valve .10 controls the supply of air to both sides of the piston 8, and its rod 11 is connected to a lever 12 on a shaft 13 which has also on it a second lever 14 upon which is a float 15, all in known manner. As already explained, the engine may be so interconnected with this valve mechanism that its speed is reduced to a minimum upon closure of this valve. To this end, and as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, a system of links and levers 16 tank of the vessel whatsoever.

trol lever 18 to the reduced speed position when the valve 3 closes.

In operation, the float 15 is normally in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the valve 3 open. Immediately a surge of Water lifts the float, it, through the levers 14, 12, operates the air valve 10 which admits air beneath the piston 8 which then rises and closes the valve. As soon as the float falls again, the air valve 10 is moved to admit compressed air above the piston 8, and the valve 3 is then immediately opened. Simultaneously, control of the engine takes place through the linkage 16. Alternatively, and as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, the control may be electrical instead of by float. In this example, contact plates 19, 20, controlling the circuit of a solenoid coil 2l, become submerged when a surge of water occurs, they being sufficiently closely placed, the Water acts as an electrolyte completing the circuit. The coil 21 being then energized pulls down the solenoid 22 against the action of a spring 23. The solenoid is connected by a link 24 to a rocking lever 25, which in turn is connected to the air valve 10 which it thus operates to admit air to the cylinder 9 and so operate the valve 3 m substantially known manner.

In order to obtain the best results` it is well as alreadv explained that means should be provided for the difference in trim and weight due to the difference in specific gravity of the water gradually displacing the fuel oil in the fuel tanks. Means to this end are shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In this ar rangement which is of' substantially known form, there are two pumps, one large pump 40, the fuel pump,'and one small pump 4l, the compensating pump, and the capacity of the compensating pump is to the capacity of the fuel pump as the difference between the weight of fuel oil and a similar volume of sea Water is to the weight of the fuel oil.

. In Fig. 8 the compensating pump is sho-wn pumping from-a small tank 42 whose capacity is at least so great that it may contain water of a weight equal to the difference be` tween the Weight of the fuel in the tank 43 andr the same tank full of water, and Whose center of gravity when full it is desirable to keep as close to the center of gravity of the fuel tank when full 'as possible, but the pump may pump if convenient from any In the arrangement shown, the fuel pump 4() has its inlet 44 from the top of the fue] tank 43, and its delivery 45 to the engine. To the bottom .of the fuel tank is a sea connection 4G. l`he compensating pump 41 has its inlet 47 from the bottom of the compensating tank, while its delivery 48 is overboard. To control the speed of the engine, the capacity of' the fuel pump is varied, and in order that perfect compensation occur, it is necessary to vary the capacity of the compensating pump in exactly the same Way. This is arranged for in the present instance by making the pumps exactly similar in construetion, drlving both pumps from the same shaft. and governing both from the same handle. Fig. 9 shows the general arrangement of a pump, and more particularly the regulating device. On the driving shaft 49 is fitted an eccentric and rod 50, and on the governing shaft 5l turned by a handle 52, another eccentric and rod 53 both of which actuate the floating link 54 which in turn actuates the rod 55, and hence the inlet valve 5G. As will be seen from Fig. '9, when the handle 52 is moved the shaft 51 is rotated and actuates the rod 55 through the link 54 and the eccentric and rod 53, thus causing the inlet valve to remain open a longer or shorter period as desired after the pump plunger has started upon the delivery stroke. In practice the compensating tank 42 is filled when the ballast tanks are filled for submerging. The engine is then started and the compensating pump then begins to draw water from its tank.

1. In a submarine or submersible boat, means for maintaining the boat at a given stage of submergence consisting of a plane structure so placed and at such a height above the boats main structure that it acts automatically as a hydro-plane when the boat is submerged to a depth to bring it into contact with the water, a trunk, and means for automatically controlling the `mouth of the trunk in accordance with the local rise and fall of the surface level.

2. In a submarine or submersible boat, means for maintaining the boat at a given stage of submergence consisting of a plane, a framing to which the plane is pivoted, this framing being pivoted at its rear end on the boats structure, a motive fluid cylinder and piston, links connecting the piston rod thereof to the frame, sliders on the side members of the frame, fingers on the sliders holding' the plane in position, levers on a pivot shaft, links connecting the sliders with these`y levers, Worm gearing operating the levers to retract the fingers and so release the plane, a trunk, and means for automatically controlling the mouth of the trunk.

3. In a submarine or submersible boat, means for maintaining the boat at a given stage of submergence consisting of a plane, a framing to which the plane is pivoted, this framing being pivotcd at its rear end on the boats structure, a motive fluid cylinder and piston, links connecting the piston rod thereof to the frame, sliders on the side members of the frame, fingers on the sliders holdin i' the plane in position, levers on a pivot s iaft, links connecting the sliders with these levers, worm gearing operating the levers to retract the fingers and so `release the plane, a trunk, means for automatically controlling the mouth of the trunk, and means for maintaining trim and constant weight irrespective of the consumption-of oil fuel.

4. In a submarine or submersible boat, means for maintaining the boat at a given stage of submergence, a trunk, means for automatically controlling the mouth of the trunk, means for maintaining trim and constant weight irrespective of the consumption of oil fuel, and means for controlling the speed of the engine in accordance with thev control of the mouth of the trunk.

5. In a submarine or submersible boat, means for maintaining the boat at a given stage of submergence consisting of a plane, a framing to which the plane is pivoted, this framing being pivoted at its rear end on the boats structure, a motive fluid cylinder and piston, links connecting the piston rod thereof to the frame, sliders on the side members of the frame, fingers on the sliders holding the plane in position, levers on a pivot shaft, links connecting the sliders with these levers, worm gearing operating the levers to retract the fingers and so release the plane, a trunk, means for automatically controlling the mouth of the trunk, means for maintaining trim andiconstant weight irrespective of the consumption of oil fuel, and means for controlling the speed of the engine in accordance with the control of the mouth of the trunk.

6. In a submarine or submersible boat, means for maintaining the boat at a given stage of submergence, a trunk, the top of which is above normal water level, and by which air is admitted to an internal cornbustion engine, or by which the products of combustion from asteam engine are discharged, means for automatically controlling the mouth of the trunk, means for maintaining trim and constant Weight irrespective of the consumption of oil fuel, and means for controlling the speed of the engine in accordance with the control of the mouth ofthe trunk.

7. In a submarine or submersible boat, means for maintaining the boat at a given stage of submergence, a trunk, means for automatically controlling the mouth of thc trunk consisting of a valve, a motive fluid cglinder and piston operatively connected t ereto, a valve controlling the supply of fluid to the cylinder, a float operatively connected to the latter valve and so placed that it moves withthe rise and fall of the surfaceA level ad'acent to the mouth of the trunk, means or maintaining trim and constant weight irrespective of the consumption of oil fuel, and means for controlling the speed of the engine in accordance with the control of the mouth of the trunk.

8. In a submarine or submersible boat, means for maintaining the boat at a given stage of submergence, a trunk, means for automatically controllin the mouth of the trunk, means for maintaining trim and constant Weight irrespective of the consumption of oil fuel consisting of a fuel pump and a second pump which has an output proportional to that of the fuel pump, a

fuel tank, a small compensating tank placed` in the fuel tank out of which water is pumped in such quantities as to compensate for the dierence in weight between the oil consumed at any time and the sea water taking its place, and means for controlling the speed of the engine in accordance with the control of the mouth of the trunk.

9r In a submarine or submersible boat, means for maintaining the boat at a given stage of submergence, a trunk, means for automatically controlling the mouth of the trunk, means for maintainingI trim and constant weight irrespective of the consumption of oil fuel, and means for controlling the speedv of the engine in accordance with the control of the mouth of the trunk consisting of an enginecontrol lever, a pusher adapted to move the en'gine control lever, and a system of links and levers so arranged between the pusher and an extension of the piston rod so that when the valve controlling the mouth of the trunk closes the engine control lever is moved to the reduced speed position.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARLEY FOTllERlNGHAM HAY. FERDINAND GUHRAUER. Witnesses:

DAVID FERGUSON, JAMES EAoLEsoM. 

